Facts from EBRI

June 1999

Sources of Health Insurance
and Characteristics of the Uninsured

East South Central States,
1997

Kentucky

 The percentage of Kentucky's nonelderly population
(under age 65) without health insurance coverage in 1997, 17.0
percent, was lower than the national rate of 18.3 percent.
Kentucky's nonelderly population also had a lower rate of private
coverage, 68.0 percent, than the national rate of 70.9 percent.

 Children living in Kentucky--infants through age
17--had a lower rate of employment-based health insurance
coverage, 54.3 percent, than the national rate, 59.7 percent. The
uninsured rate for children in Kentucky, 14.5 percent, was lower
than the national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes just above the
federal poverty level--100 percent to 149 percent of
poverty--were the most likely to be uninsured, 32.4 percent, and
children in families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured, 5.8
percent.

 Kentucky workers had the same rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage as the nation, 72.2 percent. Also, 54.4
percent of Kentucky workers had employment-based health insurance
coverage in their own name (meaning they were the primary
beneficiaries), compared with 55.0 percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage: 63.9 percent of Kentucky workers in firms with
1,000 or more workers had coverage in their own name, compared
with 28.3 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among Kentucky workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance in their own name were those in
transportation, communications, and utilities, 84.3 percent, and
in government, 70.8 percent. Workers in agriculture/mining had
the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 5.6 percent, followed by
transportation, communications, and utilities workers at 10.7
percent. Workers in construction and in services had the highest
uninsured rates in the state, 45.3 percent and 21.3 percent,
respectively.

Tennessee

 The percentage of Tennessee's nonelderly population
(under age 65) without health insurance coverage in 1997, 15.2
percent, was lower than the national rate of 18.3 percent.
Tennessee's nonelderly population had a lower rate of private
coverage, 66.0 percent, than the national rate of 70.9 percent.
Tennessee had the highest rate of Medicaid coverage in the
nation, 21.7 percent.

 Children living in Tennessee--infants through age
17--had a lower rate of employment-based health insurance
coverage, 52.0 percent, than the national rate, 59.7 percent. The
uninsured rate for children in Tennessee, 10.7 percent, was lower
than the national rate of 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes at 400 percent
or more of the federal poverty level were the most likely to be
uninsured, 14.2 percent, and children in families with incomes at
150 percent to 199 percent of the federal poverty level were
least likely to be uninsured, less than 7.8 percent.

 Tennessee workers had a lower rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 68.1 percent, than the national rate,
72.2 percent. Also, 53.3 percent of Tennessee workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name
(meaning they were the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.0
percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage: 66.4 percent of Tennessee workers in firms with
1,000 or more workers had coverage in their own name, compared
with 19.8 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among Tennessee workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance in their own name were those in
government, 77.9 percent, and in finance, insurance, and real
estate, 72.9 percent. Workers in finance, insurance, and real
estate had the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 4.2 percent,
followed by those in government, 4.8 percent. Workers in
agriculture/mining and in construction had the highest uninsured
rates in the state at 37.6 percent and 35.2 percent,
respectively.

Alabama

 The percentage of Alabama's nonelderly population
(under age 65) without health insurance coverage in 1997, 18.0
percent, was lower than the national rate, 18.3 percent.
Alabama's nonelderly population also had a higher rate of private
coverage, 71.4 percent, than the national rate, 70.9 percent.

 Children living in Alabama--infants through age 17--had
a lower rate of employment-based health insurance coverage, 55.8
percent, than the national rate of 59.7 percent. The uninsured
rate for children in Alabama, 14.5 percent, was lower than the
national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes just above the
federal poverty level--100 percent to 149 percent of
poverty--were the most likely to be uninsured, 33.5 percent, and
children in families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured, 1.4
percent.

 Alabama workers had a higher rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 74.6 percent, than the nation, 72.2
percent. Also, 56.3 percent of Alabama workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name
(meaning they were the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.0
percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage: 67.1 percent of Alabama workers in firms with
1,000 or more workers, had coverage in their own name, compared
with 26.0 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among Alabama workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance in their own name were those in
government, 75.4 percent, and in transportation, communications,
and utilities, 75.3 percent. Finance, insurance, and real estate
workers had the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 4.2 percent,
followed by workers in government at 5.6 percent. The highest
uninsured rates in the state were among workers in construction,
33.5 percent, and in wholesale/retail trade, 25.1 percent.

Mississippi

 The percentage of Mississippi's nonelderly population
(under age 65) without health insurance coverage in 1997, 22.6
percent, was higher than the national rate, 18.3 percent.
Mississippi's nonelderly population also had a lower rate of
private coverage, 64.4 percent, than the national rate, 70.9
percent.

 Children living in Mississippi--infants through age
17--had a lower rate of employment-based health insurance
coverage, 50.5 percent, than the national rate, 59.7 percent. The
uninsured rate for children in Mississippi, 18.7 percent, was
above the national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes just above the
federal poverty level--100 percent to 149 percent of
poverty--were the most likely to be uninsured, 33.5 percent, and
children in families with incomes of 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured, 3.6
percent.

 Mississippi workers had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 66.9 percent, than
the nation, 72.2 percent. Also, 55.4 percent of Mississippi
workers had employment-based health insurance coverage in their
own name (meaning they were the primary beneficiaries), compared
with 55.0 percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage: 67.0 percent of Mississippi workers in firms
with 1,000 or more workers had coverage in their own name,
compared with 20.4 percent of those in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among Mississippi workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name were
those in government, 76.0 percent, and in finance, insurance, and
real estate, 70.9 percent. Finance, insurance, and real estate
workers had the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 8.2 percent,
followed by workers in government, 14.8 percent. Workers in
construction and self-employed workers had the highest uninsured
rates in the state at 44.3 percent and 33.3 percent,
respectively.